‘England don’t need Greenwood at the moment’ – says McManaman

A former Few Lions midfielder thinks an emerging Ability at Old Trafford is”too young” to step onto the global stage this Season
Mason Greenwood needs more time to develop Manchester United before being called up to the England squad, according to Steve McManaman.

Greenwood is currently enjoying a superb breakout season at Old Trafford, having been asked to step up to support Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford following the summer death of Romelu Lukaku.

England is sweating on the fitness of Rashford and Tottenham talisman Harry Kane ahead of the championship, with both guys set to devote the upcoming few months on the sidelines through injury.

Greenwood has earned several caps for England’s Under-21 side and may be asked to give additional cover for the senior squad if he continues on his present trajectory.

But while McManaman clarifies the United teenager as a”great player”, he does not feel the youngster is ready for the pressures of global soccer just yet.

“I reside at the North-West and as you know I’m involved in the academy at Liverpool and Greenwood’s standing for the previous three or four years has always been very great.

“I understand what a great player he is, I’ve seen him enough times in youth football and academy soccer and now in the first team.

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“He is a great player who’s scored plenty of goals today, he’s a fantastic talent but as I’ve mentioned before, just leave him alone and let him develop at Manchester United and in a couple of years after he is 20, 21, 22, then let’s look then.

“We do not have to take 18-year-olds at this instant in time, we do not have to hump a heap of pressure on him because we’ve done it in the past and sometimes it hasn’t worked, so let him develop in Manchester United, let them care for him because England don’t want him at the moment.”

Greenwood will be back in contention for a place in United’s starting XI if they welcome Burnley into Old Trafford on Wednesday when the Red Devils will be aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat away at Liverpool last time out.